SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ---------------------- SCHEDULE 13G/A* (Rule 13d-102) Amendment No. 1 INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO 13d-2(b) Sterling Financial Corporation (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 859319105 (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2008 (Date of event which requires filing of this statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule 13G is filed: [ ] Rule 13d-1(b) [X] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) (Page 1 of 14 Pages) ---------------- *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 2 of 14 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Tontine Financial Partners, L.P. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 679,270 OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------------- EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ----------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 679,270 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 679,270 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 1.30% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** PN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 3 of 14 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Tontine Management, L.P. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 679,270 OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------------- EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ----------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 679,270 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 679,270 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 1.30% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** IA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 4 of 14 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 119,707 OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------------- EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ----------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 119,707 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 119,707 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 00.23% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** IA, OO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 5 of 14 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER -0- OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------------- EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ----------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON -0- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** PN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 6 of 14 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER -0- OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------------- EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ----------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON -0- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** OO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 7 of 14 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Tontine Capital Associates, L.P. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER -0- OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------------- EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ----------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON -0- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** IA, PN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 8 of 14 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Tontine Capital Associates GP, L.L.C. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER -0- OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------------- EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ----------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON -0- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** OO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 9 of 14 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Jeffrey L. Gendell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ----------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 798,977 OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------------- EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ----------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 798,977 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 798,977 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 1.53% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** IN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 10 of 14 Pages The Schedule 13G filed on June 30, 2008 is hereby amended and restated by this Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13G. Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: The name of the issuer is Sterling Financial Corporation (the "Company"). Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: The Company's principal executive offices are located at 111 North Wall Street, Spokane, Washingon 99201. Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing: This statement is filed by: (i) Tontine Financial Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("TFP") with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by it; (ii) Tontine Management, L.L.C., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TM"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by TFP; (iii) Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TOA"), which serves as investment manager to Tontine Capital Overseas Master Fund, L.P. ("TCO"), a Cayman Islands partnership, with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by TCO, and as investment manager to TFP Overseas Fund, Ltd. ("TFPO"), a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by TFPO; (iv) Tontine Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("TCP") with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by it; (v) Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TCM"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by TCP; (vi) Tontine Capital Associates, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TCA"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by TCP; (vii) Tontine Capital Associates GP, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TCGP"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by TCP; (viii) Jeffrey L. Gendell, a United States citizen ("Mr. Gendell") with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by each of TCO, TCP, TFP and TFPO. The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the "Reporting Persons." Any disclosures herein with respect to persons other than the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief after making inquiry to the appropriate party. CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 11 of 14 Pages Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence: The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 55 Railroad Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830. Item 2(c). Citizenship: See Item 2(a) above. Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, $1.00 par value (the "Common Stock") Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: 859319105 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act, (b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act, (c) [ ] Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act, (d) [ ] Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, (e) [ ] Investment Adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(E), (f) [ ] Employee Benefit Plan or Endowment Fund in accordance with 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(F), (g) [ ] Parent Holding Company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(G), (h) [ ] Savings Association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, (i) [ ] Church Plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). Not applicable. CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 12 of 14 Pages Item 4. Ownership. TM, the general partner of TFP, has the power to direct the affairs of TFP, including decisions respecting the disposition of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of the Company owned by TFP. TCM, the general partner of TCP, shares the power to direct the affairs of TCP, including decisions respecting the disposition and voting of the shares of the Company owned by TCP. TCA, the management company to TCP, shares the power to direct the disposition and voting of the shares of the Company owned by TCP. TCGP, the general partner of TCA, has the power to direct the affairs of TCA. TOA, the management company to TCO and TFPO, has the power to direct the disposition and voting of the shares of the Company owned by TCO and TFPO. Mr. Gendell is the managing member of TM, TCM, TOA and TCGP, and in that capacity directs their operations. A. Tontine Financial Partners, L.P. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 679,270 (b) Percent of class: 1.30% The percentages used herein and in the rest of Item 4 are calculated based upon the 52,133,798 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of November 1, 2008 as reflected in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008. (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 679,270 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 679,270 B. Tontine Management, L.L.C. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 679,270 (b) Percent of class: 1.30% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 679,270 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 679,270 C. Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 119,707 (b) Percent of class: 0.23% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 119,707 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 119,707 D. Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. (a) Amount beneficially owned: -0- (b) Percent of class: 0% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- E. Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C. (a) Amount beneficially owned: -0- (b) Percent of class: 0% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- F. Tontine Capital Associates, L.P. (a) Amount beneficially owned: -0- (b) Percent of class: 0% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 13 of 14 Pages G. Tontine Capital Associates GP, L.L.C. (a) Amount beneficially owned: -0- (b) Percent of class: 0% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- H. Jeffrey L. Gendell (a) Amount beneficially owned: 798,977 (b) Percent of class: 1.53% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 798,977 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 798,977 Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [x] Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Not applicable. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. Not applicable. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. See Item 2. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not applicable. Item 10. Certification. Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification: By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. CUSIP No. 859319105 13G/A Page 14 of 14 Pages SIGNATURES After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. DATED: February 13, 2009 /s/ JEFFREY L. GENDELL ---------------------- Jeffrey L. Gendell, individually, and as managing member of Tontine Management, L.L.C., general partner of Tontine Financial Partners, L.P., and as managing member of Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C., general partner of Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. and as managing member of Tontine Capital Associates GP, L.L.C., general partner of Tontine Capital Associates, L.P. and as managing member of Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C.